Multi-prong hairpin



July 11, 1967 E. .1. MUHS MULTI-PRONG HAIRPIN Filed June 8, 1964 FIG.

FIG. 3

FIG. 1

FIG. 6

FIG. 5

FIG. 4

IAIVENTOR. ELEANOR J. M u HS 42 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent3,330,287 MULTI-PRONG HAIRPIN Eleanor J. Muhs, 315 Ave. C, New York,N.Y. 10009 Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,172 1 Claim. (Cl. 132-52)The present invention relates to hairpins, and more particularly to animproved type of hairpin adapted to grip the hair in a plurality ofplaces.

Heretofore, various types of pinning devices have been employed to keepthe hair, or a headdress in place. Generally these have been the forkedtype consisting substantially of a slender U-shaped piece of wire, or ofthe relatively shorter bobby-pin type. Neither of these types isparticularly suitable to catch the hair in a plurality of places over arelatively large area, with the result that a notably greater numbermust be employed to achieve the same result. Secondly, the U-shaped typeespecially, frequently fall out, thereby failing in the desired purpose.

The present invention is an improved hairpin. The invention contemplatesproviding a novel configuration for a type of hairpin which will reallygrip the hair over a relatively wider area than similar devicesheretofore, and by means of one or more duo-membered prongs entwined toprovide a plurality of hair-receiving recesses, the hair is firmly andsecurely gripped in a plurality of places, thus providing ahair-gripping action heretofore unknown in the art.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide anovel type of hairpin wherein the disadvantages associated with similardevices are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of hairpin,of novel configuration such that the hair, or a headdress, is firmlygripped in a plurality of places over a relatively wider area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hairpin of theabove indicated nature having bob pin means and having hair pin meanswhich shall be relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and yetpositive and reliable in use.

Further objects and advantages and features will appear more fullyhereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description whichfollows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein variousembodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is tobe expressely understood however, that the drawings are for the purposesof illustration only, and are not to be construed as defining the limitsof the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appendedclaim.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a hairpin having one configurationembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows,

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a hair-pin, embodying an alternateconfiguration of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a hairpin embodying still anotherconfiguration of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an additional embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the invention,having a plurality of hair-receiving prongs.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a hairpin, generally designated by the numeral 10, having a pairof parallel legs 12 and 14, respectively constructed preferably ofrelatively slender stock of circular section. The legs 12 and 14 extendupwardly, and thence inwardly toward one-another in U- fashion to apoint of entwining contact 16 forming a hair 3,330,287 Patented July 11,1967 pin means. Therefrom, the legs entwine about one-another for aprescribed number of turns as at 18, sufiicient to join them firmlytogether; a condition this, which will be readily recognizable to thoseskilled in the art, without further elaboration.

At a point of separation 20, the leg 14 proceeds downward, rectilinearlyparallel to its self, for a distance approximately two fifths of thecomplete length of the hairpin 10, and terminates at a point 22. The leg12 on the other hand, also proceeds downwards a like distance, but in asinusoidal-like (although flatter) configuration to :form a center prongor bob pin means 23, together with the leg 14, such that the troth ofeach successive wave is tangent to the rectilinear leg 14, at aplurality of points, such as at point 24. In this manner, a plurality ofhairreceiving recesses, or enclosures, such as 26 are formed between thelegs 12 and 14, by their contours. The leg 12 then terminates at point28 veering off at a slight angle A (FIGS. 1 and 3) from leg 14, forreasons hereinafter explained. The end points 22 and 28 are shown coatedto remove the sharpness therefrom,

It should be noted that the configurations of the legs 12 and 14 couldbe interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention. Thatis to say, that if desired, the leg 12 might be made to proceed downwardrectilinearly, while the leg 14 might be made to proceed downwardly in asinusoidal-like configuration instead, with like results and effect, asshown with reference to prong 51 (FIG. 6).

Referring now to FIGURE 3 for an alternate embodiment of the invention,a hairpin 21 has legs 13 and 15, corresponding to legs 12 and 14 of FIG.1, although they are relatively shorter. The legs 13 and 15 are inidentical relationship to one-another as the legs 12 and 14 of FIG. 1,up to the point of separation 20. Thenceforth, both the legs 13 and 15proceed downwards in a sinusoidal (although fiatter) configuration toform a center prong 30. It is to be noted that in the center prong 30',the legs 13 and 15 are tangent at a plurality of points 32 at the trothof each wave, to form a plurality of hair receiving recesses or chambers34. The legs 13 and 15 terminate in the same slight angle A to oneanother as heretofore explained with reference to FIG. 1. The centerprong 30 extends downwards however, a distance preferably two thirds ofthe entire length of the hairpin 21.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are alternate embodiments of the invention whereinhairpins 35 and 37 respectively, each embody center prong 23 as shownand described with reference to hairpin 10. The center prong 23 extendsdownward approximately one half the total length of the hairpin 35,while the relationship between the length of the hairpin 37 and itscenter prong 23 is approximately the same as in FIGURE 1 set forthabove. However, the legs 38 and 39 (FIG. 4) are gently undulated in asuccession of relatively flat continuously reversing curves, and areidentical up to the point of contact 16, and disposed in left and righthand fashion to one another.

The legs 41 and 42 however (FIG. 5) are formed by a combination ofrectilinear portions 43 and 44 respectively, together with gentlyreversing continuous curving portions 45 and 47. In both, FIGURES 4 and5, the respective legs, 38 and 39, and 41 and 42, terminate veeringapart from one another.

Turning now attention to FIGURE 6, we have shown an additionalembodiment of the invention in the guise of a duo-pronged hairpin 50,comprising a pair of parallel rectilinear legs 52 and 54, and a centralsubstantially U- shaped section 56. The rectilinear legs 52 and 54 veertowards one another in U-fashion and entwine with the legs 58 and 60 ofthe central section 56 (as at points 62 and 64) to form a firm bondtherewith. Thence the legs 58 and 60 proceed downwardly in rectilinearfashion approximately two thirds of the complete length of the hairpin50. The legs 52 and 54 extend downwards a like distance in the mannerheretofore explained to form prongs 23 and 51 respectively.

In this manner a relatively wider hairpin having two center prongs orbob pin means is formed, and it follows that the number of hairreceiving recesses or enclosures 26 is doubled.

In all embodiments of the invention, the ends of the center prong (orprongs) veer away from one another by the slight angle A. In use, as thehairpin is being driven through the'hair, this slight angle provides aready entrance for the strands of hair, and facilitates their admissionto the hair receiving enclosures 26.

It will now be seen that in the use of the various embodiments of theinvention, the following advantages readily become apparent. The centerprongs or bob pin means, acting in concert with the legs or hair pinmeans of each respective hairpin, provide a three point penetration intothe hair, and the hairpin becomes more firmly wedged therein. In thecase of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6, a greater than three pointpenetration is provided.

The strands of hair are really gripped firmly in a plurality of places,since each hair receiving recess or enclosure 26 will be gripping astrand of hair and the center prong While the invention has beenillustrated and described with respect to some preferred embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that it is intended to cover all changesand modifications which do not constitute departures from the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the claim.

What is claimed is: a

A unitary hair retaining element comprising in combination, bob pinmeans for firmly gripping a first portion of hair and for establishing arelatively stable part of a coifiure therewith and hair pin means forrelatively loosely engaging a second portion of hair larger in quantitythan.

said first portion and generally surrounding the same, said bob pinmeans and said hair pin means being fabricated from at least twocontinuous lengths of stock extending in spaced parallel relation fromthe free outer tips thereof and forming outer legs of said hair pinmeans, said legs terminating in bends extending substantially arcuatelytoward one another, said bends terminating in portions within which saidat least two lengths of stock are first entwined and then extend to forminner legs in side by side relation between said outer legs and formingsaid bob pin means, said inner legs terminating in inner tips short ofthe plane of said outer tips, said inner tips being coated l anddiverging outwardly, one of said inner legs being (or prongs) becomesfirmly anchored into the hair by the side legs. I

A certain amount of elasticity inherent in the center prongs will causeflexing upwards of the prong, as it and the pin are driven through thehair, with the result that a.

counter spring action downwards towards the scalp will as frequentlyoccurs with other types of hairpins.

Because of one or more (FIG. 6) center prongs being employed, thegeneral configuration of the hairpins is wider, and thence gripping ofthe hair occurs over a larger 7 area.

V The reversing curve construction on the legs 38 and 39 and 41 and 42(FIGS. 4 and 5) provides a more resilient pin and further hair grippingaction is obtained from the recesses 40 formed as the contour of the legreverses direction. In employing the pins shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, itwill be obvious that if the legs are slightly pressed towards oneanother as the pin is driven through the hair,

upon releasing the legs, the resilience therein will tend to return themoutwardly against the hair, thereby causing a still firmer grip.

' occur, thereby tending to hold the hair still more firmly,

. and insuring that the hairpin will not fall out of the hair Therelatively slender stock preferably of circular cross section employedin the construction of the invention, may be selected with properties ofgreater resilience and elasticity if it is desired to increase thegripping effect achieved thereby.

formed rectilinearly, the other of said inner legs being formed alongsinusoidal paths forming with said rectilinear leg a plurality ofsubstantially small hair gripping spaces and a plurality of hairgripping points, said bob pin means and said hair pin means togetheralso constituting means for relatively loosely engaging hair extendingtransversely thereof.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, PrimaryExaminer.

F. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

